“By providing all the materials and instructions, our customers become their own supplierS.”

– LISA LI, FOUNDER

LAST UPDATED: DECEMBER 9 2016

DATA

THE PROS:

The Rare Creature sells knitting kits which are made up of a step-by-step knit pattern, knitting needles, and alpaca yarn.

The brand can trace its entire supply chain.

The Rare Creature reports it chose alpaca fibre for its knitting kits due to the fibres sustainability credentials; it is renewable resource, and can be processed from raw fibre to finished product by hand without chemicals or machines which results in a minimal negative impact on the environment.

The brand selects its colors mindfully and choses natural colours as much as possible to avoid extra pollution, water waste and toxic chemicals. The brand currently has 6 natural colours in its collection.

THE CONS:

We don’t have any information on if the brand monitors the social practices of its supply chain.

/The Rare Creature was founded in 2016 with the purpose of providing an all-in-one knitting kit for its customers to create timeless, modern designs using sustainable fibres.

/The Rare Creature has 1 yarn supplier and 1 fibre supplier both based in Peru.

/The brand sells knitting kits which are made up of a step-by-step knit pattern, knitting needles, and alpaca yarn.

/The brands releases 3-4 collections per year, and its lead time for yarn is 3 months.

/Every kit the brand sells comes with easy to follow instructions and links to how-to videos.

/The Rare Creature uses 1 supplier for its yarn, Michell & Cia in Peru. Michell & Cia has more than 85 years experience processing Alpaca fibre, and is a leading Alpaca tops and yarns producer and exporter.

/The Rare Creature’s knitting needles are made from sustainably harvested birch wood and made in California, United States, by a small family owned business.

/The brand can trace its entire supply chain.

/The Rare Creature does not make any garments.The brand reports that by providing all the materials and instructions its customers become their own supplier/maker of its knitted products.

/We don’t have any information on if the brand monitors the social practices of its supply chain.

/The Rare Creature’s yarn, The Big Softy, is made from 95% alpaca fibre with a polyamide core, which gives the looser yarn stability.

/The Rare Creature reports it chose alpaca fibre for its knitting kits due to the fibres sustainability credentials; it is renewable resource, and can be processed from raw fiber to finished product by hand without chemicals or machines which results in a minimal negative impact on the environment.

/The brand’s yarn mill works with local alpaca farmers and selects the best breeds from the breeders, working on improving the quality of the fiber and increasing the number of alpacas in the region naturally.

/The Rare Creature states it selects its colors mindfully and choses natural colours as much as possible to avoid extra pollution, water waste and toxic chemicals. The brand currently has 6 natural colours in its collection.

/In 2016, in an interview with Project JUST, founder Lisa Li stated she had researched many different mills before settling on the brands Peru mill specializing in alpaca yarn, which satisfied her criteria of ethical treatment of animals and the quality of the yarn. Li states the brand’s focus is on minimizing waste, and ensuring that the yarn used does not harm the environment or the animals it is sourced from.

/The Rare Creature states that it aims to make every decision mindfully of the environment and the people that the brand comes in contact with. It aspires to enhance people’s lives in everything it does.

/The Rare Creature does not publicly disclose that it is a part of any multi stakeholder initiatives to improve the social and environmental impact of its supply chain.

/We don’t have any information on any corporate social responsibility initiatives the brand is a part of.

/We don’t have any information on how much the CEO, Lisa Li, made in the last financial year.

/There are no reported management scandals or issues.

/The Rare Creature combines natural fibers with innovation. The brands yarn, The Big Softy, is made from 95% alpaca fibre with a polyamide core, which gives the looser yarn stability.

/The Rare Creature reports it chose alpaca fibre for its knitting kits due to the fibres sustainability credentials; it is renewable resource, and can be processed from raw fiber to finished product by hand without chemicals or machines which results in a minimal negative impact on the environment.

/The Rare Creature reports it chose knitwear because it is always made to measure and therefore creates little to no waste compared to clothes cut from fabric.